Exchange (Erasmus+ & Overseas)

Once you have received confirmation of your destination, it is your responsibility to submit applications for exam approval, as follows:  

1. Follow the instructions for your Faculty and consult your exam record.
2. Read carefully the specific academic instructions for each destination, which can be found in the flyers/notes or on the destination university website (NB access to the complete educational offer is not always available).
3. Attend meetings with the representatives of individual Faculties.

Approval of an examination by the relevant academic staff at Cattolica does not automatically guarantee access to the course at the destination university, since:

1. the course abroad may run out of available places or may be cancelled/moved to another semester: for this reason it is best to propose as many exams as possible for approval
2. prerequisites for acceptance on a course abroad have to be verified
3. you must check that the Cattolica exams that you are applying approval for can be included in your study plan, in line with the rules of your degree programme. 

NB You must pass the exam abroad. Course attendance is not valid for purposes of recognition. 
 

Recognition of credits

Study grants

Erasmus+ / Cattolica / MUR disburse study grants to support the costs of mobility. The aim of this is to support as many students as possible for as many months as possible spent abroad. 

The Office will be advised of total funds available for the 2024/25 academic year in July 2024; based on the total number of students selected for both semesters in the 2024/25 academic year, only at that point will it be possible to verify the actual funds available to cover all or part of the mobility.

Should insufficient funding be available, the funds will be distributed on the basis of the merit rankings drawn up for allocation of places, with proportional distribution between faculties based on the number of students selected. Some students may therefore be eligible for Erasmus+/Exchange status but with a "zero grant". Students with teaching activities entirely online from Italy will also have Erasmus+/Exchange status but with a "zero grant".

The selected students will be properly enrolled in Cattolica during their stay abroad and will have to continue to pay their university fees in line with the deadlines issued by the relevant Cattolica offices.  

The Exchange programme does not require you to pay any tuition fees or university fees at the university abroad.

If you are awarded a study grant, you will receive information and forms to be submitted to obtain the financial contribution to support your expenses. The grant is normally paid in two instalments: the first after departure and the second upon return, upon submission of the relevant documentation requested by the International Office.  

Costs

• Students selected are responsible for costs of travel, accommodation and board, teaching materials, any insurance costs, visa expenses, and any fixed costs which may be imposed by the host university.
• The amount of Erasmus+ monthly support varies slightly by destination, based on tables drawn up by the EU which take account of the cost of living in each country.
• Students awarded Erasmus+ study grants will not be able to benefit at the same time from other EU financial support (Erasmus+ Placement, Erasmus+ Mundus, Leonardo, etc.) or from internship or thesis abroad grants.
• Students who already benefit from an EduCatt scholarship will be able to apply to Educatt for a grant supplement for their study abroad.
• Students with a proven disability can verify with the International Office whether it is possible to apply for additional funds to support their specific needs.
• Students selected for destinations in Switzerland or the UK, both outside the Erasmus+ network, will be given specific guidance on the availability and scope of the scholarship.

Below are some examples of documentation which may be required to obtain study grants:

• ISEE form: this document may be requested specifically for university use
• Receipts: students are advised to keep all receipts of payments for accommodation, transport, flights etc.
• Completed Learning Agreement: students selected for an Erasmus+ destination will be provided with guidance for completing this document
• Period of Study Certification: official document certifying the start and end dates of Erasmus+ or Overseas programmes.

Erasmus+ mobility is possible in Cattolica via the Exchange programme.

The EU Erasmus+ Regulation allows students to enjoy Erasmus+ status up to a maximum of 12 months for each cycle of study, or up to 24 months for single-cycle programmes. It is there possible to undertake Erasmus+ mobility during a Master’s degree programme having already undertaken one during a previous Bachelor’s degree programme. For a single-cycle degree programme, two sessions of Erasmus+ mobility can be undertaken over 5-6 years. 

Students can repeat an Overseas programme session several times during your university studies

The Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) provides the general quality framework for European and international collaborative activities that an institution can carry out within the Erasmus+ programme. Any higher education institution located in a country participating in the programme and wishing to take advantage of the opportunities for mobility in studies and/or collaboration to promote innovation and the exchange of good practice under Erasmus+, must be in possession of the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE).

Institutions can apply to the European Commission for an ECHE; they must comply with the fundamental principles of the programme and share details of their internationalisation strategy in the Erasmus Policy Statement (EPS) section.

Below are the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore ECHE and EPS documents, valid for the 2014-2020 and 2021-2027 Erasmus+ programmes.
 

ECHE (Erasmus Charter for Higher Education 2014 – 2020)

ECHE (Erasmus Charter for Higher Education 2021 - 2027)

European Policy Statement 2014 - 2020

European Policy Statement 2021 - 2027

All students who take part in an international programme promoted by Cattolica International are required to sign up to the "Student Safety Package" which comprises an insurance policy and an emergency app. 

Students selected for the programme will be provided with information about costs and how to activate the service. 

Please note that destination universities may require students to take out additional insurance cover. This means in these cases students will have to take out double insurance cover since the “Student Safety Package” is an obligatory requirement.  

In addition, all students leaving on Cattolica International mobility programmes are required to:

• register on the Farnesina website
• keep up to date on the international situation through official channels of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, particularly the Safe Travel website.

READ MORE ABOUT THE STUDENT SAFETY PACKAGE

Cattolica International - MILAN
Phone: 02 7234 5252
@: info.outbound@unicatt.it

Cattolica International - BRESCIA
Phone: 030 2406 250
@: ucsc.international-bs@unicatt.it

Cattolica International - PIACENZA
Phone: 0523 599 107
@: programmi.internazionali-pc@unicatt.it

Cattolica International - ROME
Phone: 06 3015 5819
@: ucsc.international-rm@unicatt.it